Refrigerator and icemaker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray

Abstract

An icemaker assembly and a refrigerator having the icemaker assembly are provided. The icemaker assembly includes a cover directing cool air toward an ice tray and a bracket for enhancing flow of the cool air directed toward the ice cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray, the ice maker assembly comprising:
 a case mounted on a rear surface of a door and defining a space; 
 an ice tray received in the case and storing water used for making ice; 
 a cover disposed above the ice tray and covering an opened top surface of the case; 
 a plurality of grille ribs that are formed on a top surface of the cover to guide cool air into the cover; 
 at least one guide rib extending from at least one of the grille ribs toward the ice tray; 
 a bracket for mounting the ice tray inside of the case; 
 a front guide portion formed on a portion of a front half of the bracket, the front guide portion rounded from a portion in front of the ice tray to define a space above the top of the ice tray; and 
 a rear guide portion formed on a portion of a rear half of the bracket, the rear guide portion extending upward at an outer side of ice tray for guiding cool air toward the ice tray, 
 wherein the at least one guide rib is extended toward the space defined between the front and rear guide portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the cover is inclined downward toward a storage chamber of a refrigerator. 
     
     
       3. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the grille ribs make a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface of the cover. 
     
     
       4. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 3 , wherein inclinations of the grille ribs are gradually increased rearward. 
     
     
       5. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide rib is bent toward the top surface of the ice tray at a lower end of the grille rib. 
     
     
       6. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide rib extends in a direction intersecting the top surface of the ice tray. 
     
     
       7. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide rib includes a first guide rib extending from one of the grille ribs, which is closest to an inner surface of the door, and a second guide rib extending from another one of the grille ribs, which is farthest from the inner surface of the door. 
     
     
       8. The ice maker assembly with provisions for guiding cool air flow to an ice tray according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second guide ribs are formed on two of the grille ribs, and the first and second guide ribs extend toward the front and rear guide portions, respectively.